old44

This hurts like you can't imagine, but I have to go with the King on this one. ML learned a lot of football from Coach Orr, too. Most of the current coaching staff at Cloudland have been heavily influenced by Coach Orr. Cloudland football hasn't changed all that much, only the players. The main thing that the Cloudland teams of the last fifteen years have over the teams of the late seventies and early eighties is speed. The heart was always there. So was the Coaching.

As for yelling at high-school kids, I have coached that way. Didn't seem to do much except cow the kids and make me hoarse. As I grew up I realized that yelling wasn't effective if I used it all the time. Our staff rarely raises their voices to the kids...so when one of us does they know we mean business. I have never seen any of us "chew" a kid individually, after all, Football is about team. Personally (note the "personally" here) I have noticed that the coaches that yell and scream the most are trying to make it look like the kids are at fault to hide their own poor coaching. But I could be wrong. Here is something to think about. Have you ever known a teenage kid who worked out in the off season, went through camp, came to practice, and then didn't give everything they had on the field? So if the kids are out there giving it their all and still making mistakes, whos fault is that? If it were my kids I would say mine...and if it is my fault as a coach that they aren't in the right place then I'm gonna coach them...not yell at them to cover my shortcomings. "Love your players unconditionally and you enable them to play above themselves by removing fear from the equation...scared players are hesitant players, it takes confident players to make great plays." Robert Akins [ Best post I have ever read. You get much respact here.

Amen, starman. CILPA?!?!? What!?!? Surely this is just rec league your talking about.

It is a sad thing. Have there been any noticeable changes in chemistry? Storm, your usually on top of things there. I thought they had a successful season.

The coach should be allowed to pick his/her team. Period.

Hey shazam, I would imagine that camarogirl knows more about football than you will ever know. And yes, I'm sure she knows their first names. I noticed that you remembered D.B. first name. How sweet of you. By the way, GO LANDERS!!

No,although I'm soory to here that also. Starman, I heard that The King's Grandfather passed away. Just sending my condolences.

I was sorry to here about your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

pujo, avery should be scoring more. As I said, they have all their skill players back from last year. That's what happens when you have an experienced team. They should get better every year. Avery is very well balanced in their attack. Solid passing and running game. Of course, they were last year. Good chance that Spradling and Bare will be playing somewhere on Saturdays. I may even drive up there to see the Avery- Mitchell game. Just wanted everybody to know that the kids from Avery are what drives that team. Just like the kids from Cloudland will bring us back up. Even if it takes a couple of years. Everyone knows that experiance is the best teacher.

pujo, just for the record, Avery was 8-4 last year with one loss in the state playoffs. They had all of their skill players returning. Their success this year is no surprise. Most people thought they should finish second in their conf. this year. So far they are playing up to expectations. This team ws built and ready before the new coaching staff came on board. they should go 10-1 thru their season and at least 2 deep in the playoffs. The next 2 years should tell what kind of talent Avery has coming on. By the way, before you start talking about state championships, you should check a little 1a team from Albemarle. Solid prgram every year.

Dang, king, now your makin' it hard for me to pull for my home team.

I'll be there. I have not seen a map. You can probably use Mapquest, though.

I agree. This young team needs to work on correcting the mistakes they have been making. These games are just tune-ups for the region games. I still think they they will beat Unaka, Jellico, North Greene, and Cosby. This would bring them to the first round of the playoffs. How far did they go last year? I think this team will go as far, at least.

You need to remember, if they are being hand-timed, you add .2. The only way to get a true read in the 40 is electronically.

Good post camarogirl and glee. The stands were empty?!?! Where are all those people that followed the team over the past 4 years? Were they just ML and MB fans? The community needs to get behind these kids. They need the support a whole lot more this year than last. Sounds like the community is letting these boys down. This team will learn as the year goes on. This is not last years team. these boys will find their own way. King, I played a lot and I never saw anyone from Cloudland fake an injury. These boys are cut from the same stuff. They won't just lay down. I'd say if their hurt, they're hurt.

Roy Williams, who went 7th overall in the 2004 draft, ran a 4.48 at the combine. Apply as needed

"king", DB and ML are good coaches and good guys. They are taking over a solid Avery program that went 8-3 in one of the toughest conf. in wnc. They had 16 positions returning. They should finish with a great season. Of course, the yardstick in the WHC is Owen. That usually tells what kind of team you have. After this year, the conf. schedule should be less weighted, dropping Pisgah, Brevard, West Henderson. It will be a split 1a/2a conf. Don't give up on Cloudland. You will see inprovement as the year goes on. These kids are young. Over time Cloudland will rebuild.

Pujo, I don't think Cloudland was ever anybody's "whipping post". Like most teams, they had a down year every now and then. Matter of fact, I think you brother may jave played on a couple of conf. championship teams. Cloudland has been more dominate in the past decade than they ever were. Lots of talent on the field. Good coaching. Of course, Cloudland has always had good coaching in football. Coach Orr was one of the most respected coaches that I ever Knew. But, I must say that HHS, UHS, and HVHS has not had the talent ON THE FIELD over the past 10 or 12 years that they once had. Ask anyone that remembers Tim Davis or Terry Williams. Cloudland lost a boatload of tatent this year, as well as the head coach. Might make for a tough couple of years. Like high school sports everywhere, it wil depend on the kids that come out more so than the coach.

Avery had a good season last year going 8-3 in the reg. season and losing by 4 in the first round to Lincolnton. Returned all their skill players. I think they are picked to finish 3rd in their conference this year. They will be playing in a 1a/2a split conf. next year.Back to CHS, why wouldn't these kids play? They need to play because they love the game, not because of who the coach is. This is a rebuilding year for them. Sometimes it happens. They will be fine, just sometimes it takes time.

Pujo, W. Wilkes was a very weak team. The yardstick for Avery will be Owen High School in a couple of weeks.

The best was probably Barry Stocton. His brother Greg was also very good. Injuries slowed him down some. One of the best lineman was Frank Church. Mike Lunsford was a great defensive back. Some other names: Randy Birchfield, Todd Barnett, Tony Church.